Semiconductor Constructions, and Methods of Forming Semiconductor Constructions

ABSTRACT

The invention includes methods of incorporating partial SOI into transistor structures. In particular aspects, dielectric material is provided over semiconductor material, and patterned into at least two segments separated by a gap. Additional semiconductor material is then grown over the dielectric material and within the gap. Subsequently, a transistor is formed to comprise source/drain regions within the additional semiconductor material, and to comprise a channel between the source/drain regions. At least one of the source/drain regions is primarily directly over a segment of the dielectric material, and the channel is not primarily directly over any segment of the dielectric material. The invention also includes constructions comprising partial SOI corresponding to segments of dielectric material, and transistors having at least one source/drain region primarily directly over a segment of dielectric material, and a channel that is not primarily directly over any segment of the dielectric material.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to semiconductor constructions, and to methods offorming semiconductor constructions. In particular aspects, theinvention pertains to methods of incorporating partialsilicon-on-insulator (SOI) into semiconductor constructions, and tosemiconductor constructions comprising partial SOI.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is utilized in numerous electronicsystems. A continuing goal is to increase the level of integration, witha corresponding goal to decrease the size of memory devices. As thedesign rule of memory devices decreases, channel doping withintransistors associated with memory increases to alleviate short channeleffects. However, the increased channel doping can cause increasedleakage at junctions, which can render it increasingly difficult toobtain sufficient data retention time within the memory devices.

One approach being considered for reducing leakage at junctions is toutilize partially-insulated transistors, and more specifically toutilize partial SOI to alleviate leakage at source/drain junctions. Itwould be desirable to develop economical methods for incorporating suchapproach into the fabrication of memory devices. Accordingly, it wouldbe desirable to develop new methods for incorporating partial SOI intomemory constructions. It would also be desirable to develop improvedmemory constructions containing partial SOI.

Although the invention was motivated, at least in part, by a desire toimprove memory constructions (such as, for example, DRAM constructions),it is to be understood that the invention described herein can haveadditional applications besides utilization for memory constructions,and accordingly that the invention is to be limited only by the claimsthat follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention includes a method of forming asemiconductor construction. A semiconductor substrate is provided. Thesubstrate has a first semiconductor material, and an isolation regionextending into the first semiconductor material. A portion of the firstsemiconductor material is laterally surrounded by the isolation region,and a dielectric material is over such portion. The dielectric materialis patterned into at least two segments separated by a gap. A secondsemiconductor material is epitaxially grown through the gap and to overthe segments of the dielectric material. At least one transistor isformed to have a source/drain region within the second semiconductormaterial and primarily directly over one of the segments of thedielectric material, and to have a channel region that is not primarilydirectly over any of the segments of the dielectric material.

In one aspect, the invention includes another method of forming asemiconductor construction. A semiconductor substrate provided which hasmesas of first semiconductor material laterally surrounded by isolationregions, and which has dielectric material over the mesas. Patternedprotective blocks are formed over portions of the dielectric material.At least some of the protective blocks extend across portions of twoseparate mesas. A pattern is transferred from the patterned protectiveblocks to the dielectric material to pattern the dielectric materialinto spaced segments over the mesas, and to form gaps over the mesas andbetween the spaced segments. Second semiconductor material isepitaxially grown through the gaps and to over the segments ofdielectric material. Transistors are formed which have source/drainregions within the second semiconductor material and primarily directlyover the segments of the dielectric material, and which have channelregions that are not primarily directly over any of the segments of thedielectric material.

In one aspect, the invention includes yet another method of forming asemiconductor construction. A semiconductor substrate is provided whichhas a bulk semiconductor material and an isolation region extending intothe bulk semiconductor material. A mesa of the bulk semiconductormaterial is laterally surrounded by the isolation region. A mask is overthe mesa, with such mask comprising silicon nitride over dielectricmaterial. The silicon nitride of the mask is removed, and protectiveblocking material is formed that extends across at least some of theisolation region and partially across the mesa. The protective blockingmaterial covers portions of the dielectric material of the mask, andleaves at least one portion of the dielectric material exposed. The atleast one exposed portion of the dielectric material is removed toexpose semiconductor material of the mesa. The blocking material isremoved to leave segments of the dielectric material over portions ofthe mesa adjacent the exposed semiconductor material of the mesa. Alayer of semiconductor material is epitaxially grown from the exposedsemiconductor material of the mesa. The epitaxially grown semiconductormaterial extends over the segments of dielectric material. At least onetransistor is formed having a source/drain region within the layer ofsemiconductor material and primarily directly over a segment of thedielectric material, and having a channel region that is not primarilydirectly over any of the segments of the dielectric material.

In one aspect, the invention includes a semiconductor construction. Theconstruction comprises a semiconductor material, and an isolation regionextending into the semiconductor material. The isolation regionlaterally surrounds a region of the semiconductor material. Such regionof the semiconductor material has an upper surface above the isolationregion, and has, in cross-sectional view, a pair of opposing sidewalledges extending from the upper surface to down along the isolationregion. The construction further comprises a pair of spaced segments ofdielectric material extending into the region of semiconductor materialfrom laterally opposing sides of the region. The segments are spacedfrom one another by at least one portion of the semiconductor material.Additionally, the construction includes a wordline extending across theisolation region and across the region of semiconductor material. Suchwordline extends upwardly along the opposing sidewall edges of theregion of the semiconductor material. Further, the construction includesa gate dielectric between the wordline and the region of semiconductormaterial, with the gate dielectric extending over the upper surface andalong the opposing sidewall edges of the region of semiconductormaterial. The construction also includes a transistor gate comprisingthe wordline over the region of semiconductor material, a firstsource/drain region on one side of the transistor gate, a secondsource/drain region on an opposing side of the transistor gate from thefirst source/drain region, and a channel region between the first andsecond source/drain regions. The first source/drain region is primarilydirectly over one of the segments of the dielectric material, and thechannel region is not primarily directly over any segment of thedielectric material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a diagrammatic fragmentary top view andcross-sectional side view, respectively, of a semiconductor constructionat a preliminary processing stage in accordance with an exemplary aspectof the present invention. The cross-section of FIG. 2 is along the line2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of the fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively,at a processing stage subsequent to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordancewith an exemplary aspect of the present invention. The cross-section ofFIG. 4 is along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of the fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively,at a processing stage subsequent to that of FIGS. 3 and 4, in accordancewith an exemplary aspect of the present invention. The cross-section ofFIG. 6 is along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of the fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively,at a processing stage subsequent to that of FIGS. 5 and 6, in accordancewith an exemplary aspect of the present invention. The cross-section ofFIG. 8 is along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views of the fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively, at a processing stage subsequent to that of FIGS. 7 and 8,in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention. Thecross-section of FIG. 10 is along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views of the fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively, at a processing stage subsequent to that of FIGS. 9 and10, in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention. Thecross-section of FIG. 12 is along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are views of the fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively, at a processing stage subsequent to that of FIGS. 11 and12, in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention. Thecross-section of FIG. 14 is along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are views of the fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively, at a processing stage subsequent to that of FIGS. 13 and14, in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention. Thecross-section of FIG. 16 is along the line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are views of the fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively, at a processing stage subsequent to that of FIGS. 13 and14, in accordance with another exemplary aspect of the presentinvention. The cross-section of FIG. 18 is along the line 18-18 of FIG.17.

FIG. 19 is a cross-section along the line 19-19 of FIG. 17. Thecross-section of FIG. 19 crosses that of FIG. 18, and accordingly thecross-section of FIG. 19 is along the line 19-19 of FIG. 18, and thecross-section of FIG. 18 is along the line 18-18 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 20 is a view of the fragment of FIG. 2 shown at a processing stagesubsequent to that of FIG. 4 in accordance with another aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 21 is view of the fragment of FIG. 20 shown at a processing stagesubsequent to that of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a view of the fragment of FIG. 20 shown at a processing stagesubsequent to that of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a view of the fragment of FIG. 20 shown at a processing stagesubsequent to that of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a view of the fragment of FIG. 20 shown at a processing stagesubsequent to that of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a view of the fragment of FIG. 20 shown at a processing stagesubsequent to that of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic view of a computer illustrating an exemplaryapplication of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing particular features of themotherboard of the FIG. 26 computer.

FIG. 28 is a high level block diagram of an electronic system accordingto an exemplary aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary memory deviceaccording to an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of theconstitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progressof science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

The invention includes methods for incorporating pseudo SOI intosemiconductor constructions. In particular aspects, the inventionincludes an economical method for forming pseudo SOI regions undermemory storage elements for reduced junction leakage, while maintaininga body tie for an access transistor.

Exemplary aspects of the invention are described below with reference toFIGS. 1-29. FIGS. 1-16 illustrate a first embodiment aspect of theinvention, FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate a second embodiment aspect theinvention, FIGS. 19-25 illustrate a third embodiment aspect of theinvention, and FIGS. 26-29 illustrate applications for the invention inelectronic systems.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, such illustrate a top view andcross-sectional side view, respectively, of a semiconductor construction10 at a preliminary processing stage in accordance with an aspect of thepresent invention.

The construction includes a bulk semiconductor material 12 and isolationregions 14 extending into the bulk material. The bulk semiconductormaterial can be any suitable material. Semiconductor material 12 can bereferred to as a first semiconductor material in some aspects, and/orcan be referred to as a substrate. The substrate 12 can comprise,consist essentially of, or consist of, for example, monocrystallinesilicon lightly-doped with background p-type dopant. To and ininterpretation of the claims that follow, the terms “semiconductivesubstrate” and “semiconductor substrate” are defined to mean anyconstruction comprising semiconductive material, including, but notlimited to, bulk semiconductive materials such as a semiconductive wafer(either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials thereon), andsemiconductive material layers (either alone or in assemblies comprisingother materials). The term “substrate” refers to any supportingstructure, including, but not limited to, the semiconductive substratesdescribed above.

The isolation regions are trenched isolation regions, and specificallycomprise insulative material 16 extending into trenches within thesemiconductor material 12. Such insulative material can, for example,comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of silicon dioxide. Thetrenched isolation regions laterally surround portions of the bulksemiconductor material 12. Exemplary laterally surrounded portions ofsubstrate 12 are designated by labels 18, 20 and 22 in FIG. 2, and insome aspects such laterally surrounded portions can be referred to asmesas or islands.

In the shown aspect of the invention, all of the isolation material isconnected together to form a continuous mass of isolation materialacross the substrate. In such aspects, the isolation material can beconsidered to form a single isolation region, and the mesas ofsemiconductor material can be considered to be segments within thesingle isolation region. However, it would also be common to refer tothe isolation material as being a plurality of isolation regions thatare joined to one another, with individual isolation regions beingdefined by the positions of the mesas, and being understood to be theisolation material directly associated with a particular mesa. Thus, theview of FIG. 1 could be understood to show locations of six spaced mesas(which would be below the visible material 28), and locations of sixisolation regions that join to one another. Either understanding of theisolation region material (i.e., either the description of the materialas being a single large isolation region, or as being a plurality ofseparate joined isolation regions) can be utilized in this descriptionand the claims that follow.

Dielectric material 24 extends between isolation regions 14. In theshown aspect, the dielectric material 24 comprises the same compositionas insulative material 16, and accordingly is shown merging with theinsulative material of the isolation regions. Dielectric material 24 canthus, like insulative material 16, comprise, consist essentially of,consist of silicon dioxide. It is to be understood, however, thatdielectric material 24 can comprise compositions other than thatutilized in the isolation regions in some aspects of the invention. Thedielectric material 24 is over the portions of semiconductor material 12laterally surrounded by isolation regions 14 (in other words, is overthe mesas 18, 20 and 22 of FIG. 2).

Patterned blocks 26 are over the dielectric material 24. The patternedblocks are of a composition 28 which can, for example, comprise, consistessentially of, or consist of silicon nitride. In some aspects, blocks26 and dielectric material 24 can together be considered to define apatterned mask, and the isolation regions can be considered to be formedwithin openings extending through such patterned mask. In typicalprocessing, dielectric material 24 is provided across substrate 12 as apad oxide, and silicon nitride 28 is provided over the dielectricmaterial. The pad oxide protects substrate 12 from stresses that wouldoccur if the silicon nitride were formed directly againstmonocrystalline silicon of the substrate. The silicon nitride and padoxide are patterned to form the blocks 26, and subsequently trenches areetched into substrate 12 in gaps between the blocks. The trenches arethen filled with suitable insulative material to form the isolationregions 14.

The areas defined by patterned blocks 26 can be referred to as activearea locations 27 in some aspects of the invention, in that suchlocations will ultimately be locations of active areas of transistordevices. The shown pattern of active area locations in the top view ofFIG. 1 is an exemplary pattern. Persons of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize that there are numerous other patterns, and that thepresent invention can be applied to the various other patterns.

Although the structure 10 of FIG. 2 is shown having a planarized uppersurface extending across blocks 26 and isolation regions 14, theretypically will be some insulative material 16 extending across blocks 26after the initial deposition of the insulative material within thetrenches. Accordingly, planarization is conducted to form a suitableplanarized upper surface extending across blocks 26 and the isolationregions 14. The planarization can be accomplished by, for example,chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). FIGS. 3 and 4 show construction 10after suitable planarization is conducted to form a planarized uppersurface 29 extending across blocks 26 and isolation regions 14. In someaspects, the planarization can be considered to reduce heights ofinsulative material 14 and blocks 26 from first and second heights,respectively, to a third height that is below the first and secondheights. The planarization can reduce the thickness of material 28 (suchthickness is designated with the label 25 in FIG. 4) to any desiredthickness, such as, for example, to a thickness of from about 300angstroms to about 5000 angstroms.

Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6, blocks 26 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are removed,and patterned blocks 30 and 32 of protective blocking material 34 areformed to extend partially across the mesas 18, 20 and 22 ofsemiconductor material 12. The patterned blocks 30 and 32 cover portions36 of the dielectric material 24 (the covered portions are shown indashed-line view in the top view of FIG. 5). The patterned blocks ofprotective blocking material also leave portions 38 of the dielectricmaterial 24 uncovered (in other words, exposed).

In the shown aspect of the invention, the patterned blocks 30 and 32extend across some of the isolation region 14.

Patterned blocks 30 and 32 preferably comprise a material to which thedielectric material 24 can be selectively removed, and which can also beselectively removed relative to such dielectric material. If thedielectric material 24 consists essentially of, or consist of silicondioxide, the patterned blocks 30 and 32 can, for example, comprise,consist essentially of, or consist of photoresist. The photoresist canbe patterned into the blocks 30 and 32 utilizing photolithographicprocedures.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the exposed portions 38 of dielectricmaterial 24 (FIGS. 5 and 6) are removed to leave the covered segments 36of the dielectric material. Such can be considered to pattern thedielectric material 24 into segments 36 separated by gaps 40. In theshown aspect of the invention, two segments extend from laterallyopposing sides over a mesa in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 (forinstance, two segments extend from laterally opposing sides over mesa20), and the gaps 40 are centrally located over the mesas.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the blocks 30 and 32 of protective blockingmaterial 34 (FIGS. 7 and 8) are removed. After removal of such blocks,construction 10 has an upper surface containing segments of dielectricmaterial 36 over portions of the mesas 18, 20 and 22, and exposedsemiconductor material within the gaps 40 that are also over the mesas18, 20 and 22.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a second semiconductor material 42 isepitaxially grown from the semiconductor material 12 exposed within gaps40. The second semiconductor material 42 can be the same as the firstsemiconductor material 12, or different. In particular aspects,semiconductor materials 12 and 42 both comprise, consist essentially of,or consist of monocrystalline silicon. In other aspects, one or both ofthe semiconductor materials 12 and 42 can comprise another semiconductormaterial in addition to, or alternatively to, silicon. For instance, andor both of the second materials 12 and 42 can comprise germanium.

In the shown aspect of the invention, the epitaxially grownsemiconductor material 42 extends over the insulative material 16 ofisolation regions 14, and also over the segments 36 of dielectricmaterial 24.

The active area locations 27 are shown in dashed-line in the top view ofFIG. 11 to indicate that such active area locations are beneathsemiconductor material 42.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, construction 10 is subjected toplanarization to form a planarized upper surface 43 extending acrossmaterial 42, and across the insulative material 16 of isolation regions14. Such planarization can be accomplished by, for example, CMP. Theplanarization can stop on uppermost surfaces of insulative material 16,or may remove some of the insulative material 16. The planarizationforms islands (or mesas) of second semiconductor material 42 surroundedby insulative material 16, as shown in the top view of FIG. 13. Suchislands correspond to the active area locations 27 originally defined bythe masking material 28 of FIG. 1.

Referring next to FIGS. 15 and 16, wordlines 44, 46, 48 and 50 areformed to extend across the active area locations 27. In the shownaspect of the invention, the wordlines have portions recessed withinsemiconductor material 42. Specifically, trenches are formed within thesemiconductor material 42 and lined with gate dielectric 52, andsubsequently electrically conductive wordline material 54 is providedwithin the lined trenches. The gate dielectric can comprise any suitablecomposition or combination of compositions, and can, for example,comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of silicon dioxide. Theconductive wordline material can comprise any suitable composition orcombination of compositions, including, for example, various metals,metal-containing compounds, and/or conductively-doped semiconductormaterials.

Conductively-doped source/drain regions 55, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64 and 65are formed adjacent the wordlines in the active area locations. Thewordlines can be considered to comprise transistor gates extendingacross the active area locations and gatedly connecting source/drainregions that are on opposing sides of the transistor gates. Forinstance, wordline 46 is shown in FIG. 16 to comprise a transistor gate66 that gatedly connects source/drain region 58 with source/drain region60. More specifically, the connection of source/drain regions 58 occursthrough a channel region 68 that is within the semiconductor material 42beneath the gate and between the source/drain regions (the channelregion can be appropriately doped with a threshold voltage implant, asis known to persons of ordinary skill in the art).

FIG. 16 also shows wordline 48 comprising a transistor gate 70 thatgatedly connects source/drain region 60 to source/drain region 62, withsuch connection occurring through a channel region 72 along the gate andbetween the source/drain regions.

Notably, some of the source/drain regions shown in FIG. 16 are primarilydirectly over segments 36 of dielectric material 24 (specifically, thesource/drain regions 56, 58, 62 and 64), and the channel regions are notprimarily directly over any segments of the dielectric material. Thereference to a region as being “primarily directly over” a segment isutilized to indicate that the majority of the indicated region isdirectly over the segment, which includes, but is not limited to,constructions in which the entirety of the indicated region is directlyover the segment. The reference to a region as being “not primarilydirectly over” a segment is utilized to indicate that the majority ofthe indicated region is not directly over the segment, which includes,but is not limited to, constructions in which none of the indicatedregion is directly over the segment.

In the shown aspect of the invention, the source/drain regions extenddeep enough into material 42 to reach the segments 36 of dielectricmaterial 24.

The source/drain regions that are primarily directly over segment 36 ofdielectric material 24 have the advantages of SOI in that junctions ofsuch source/drain regions are less prone to leakage than such junctionswould be without the underlying segment of dielectric material. Incontrast, the lack of dielectric material beneath the channel regionscan allow a strong tie to occur between the channel regions and thesubstrate body corresponding to the bulk semiconductor material 12.Thus, the construction of FIGS. 15 and 16 can be understood to bepartial SOI in that there is SOI associated with source/drain regions oftransistor devices and not with channel regions of the devices.

In some aspects, the wordlines 46 and 48 can be considered to be pairedwordlines extending across the same active areas 27 as one another.Transistors having gates formed by such paired wordlines can beincorporated into DRAM unit cells, and such cells can be incorporatedinto a DRAM array. For instance, the paired transistors over mesa 20 ofFIG. 16 can be incorporated into a DRAM unit cell by electricallyconnecting a bitline 76 to the shared source/drain region 60, andelectrically connecting charge storage devices 78 and 82 (typicallycapacitors) to the source/drain regions 58 and 62. The othersource/drain regions 56 and 64 of FIG. 16 could similarly be connectedto charge storage devices to incorporate such other source/drain regionsinto the DRAM array.

Although the transistor gates of FIG. 16 are shown recessed into thesemiconductor material 42, it is to be understood that any suitable gatestructure can be utilized in various aspects the invention, including,for example, non-recessed gates, such as planar gates extending acrossthe planarized surface 43. An exemplary application utilizing planargates is described with reference to FIGS. 17-19. Similar numbering willbe utilized in describing FIGS. 17-19 as is used above.

FIGS. 17-19 show a construction 100 at a processing stage subsequent tothat of FIGS. 13 and 14. The construction includes the firstsemiconductor material 12, second semiconductor material 42, andsegments 36 of dielectric material 24 described previously. The segments36 are spaced from one another by gaps 40 corresponding to sections ofsemiconductor material between the segments.

The construction also includes the isolation regions 14 containinginsulative material 16. However, the insulative material 16 has beenrecessed relative to the planar upper surface 43 of semiconductormaterial 42, resulting in the active area locations 27 being elevatedrelative to the isolation regions.

One of the active area locations 27 is relabeled as 102 in FIGS. 17-19,and such active area location is shown in cross-sectional view in FIGS.18 and 19. The active area location can be seen to comprise a region ofthe semiconductor material 42 having an upper surface 43 above uppermostsurfaces of isolation regions 14, and having, in the shownacross-sectional views, pairs of opposing sidewall edges (edges 103 and105 in the view of FIG. 18, and edges 107 and 109 in the view of FIG.19) extending from the upper surface 43 down to the uppermost surfacesof the isolation regions.

Gate dielectric 104 is formed over second conductive material 42, andsubsequently electrically conductive wordlines 106, 108, 110 and 112 areformed across an uppermost surface of construction 100, and specificallyacross the recessed isolation regions and across the gate dielectric.The gate dielectric can comprise any suitable electrically insulativecomposition or combination of compositions, and in particular aspectscan comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of silicon dioxide.Although the gate dielectric is shown covering an entirety of thesurface of semiconductor material 42, it is to be understood that theinvention also encompasses aspects in which the gate dielectric is onlyprovided beneath the wordlines.

The wordlines are shown comprising electrically conductive material 114.Such can be any suitable electrically conductive composition orcombination of compositions, including, for example, various metals,metal-containing compositions, and/or conductively-doped semiconductormaterial. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that thewordlines would typically have electrically insulative caps thereover,and electrically insulative sidewall spacers along the sidewall edges.The electrically insulative materials that would typically providedaround the conductive lines are not shown to simplify the drawings, butit should be understood that such insulative materials can be includedin various aspects of the invention.

The cross-section of FIG. 19 shows that the wordline material 114 anddielectric material 104 extend upwardly along the sidewall edges 107 and109 of the elevated region of semiconductor material 42.

The wordlines 106, 108, 110 and 112 comprise transistor gates over theactive areas, and FIG. 18 show gates 115, 117, 119 and 121 extendingover semiconductor material 42. FIG. 18 also shows source/drain regions111, 116, 118, 120, 122, 123 and 125 formed within the semiconductormaterial 42 proximate the transistor gates. Source/drain regions 118 and120, together with the gate 117 form a first transistor 130, andsource/drain regions 120 and 122, together with transistor gate 119 forma second transistor 132. The first transistor has a channel region 134extending beneath gate 117 and between source/drain regions 118 and 120;and the second transistor has a channel region 136 beneath gate 119 andbetween source/drain regions 120 and 122. The first and secondtransistors 130 and 132 are similar to the transistors discussed abovewith reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 in that both transistors comprisepartial SOI structures—with a source/drain region being primarilydirectly over an insulative segment 36, and a channel region not beingprimarily directly over an insulative segment.

Transistors 130 and 132 can be incorporated into a DRAM unit cell byelectrically connecting shared source/drain region 120 to a bitline 138,and electrically connecting source/drain regions 118 and 122 to chargestorage devices 140 and 142. In some aspects, source/drain region 118can be considered a first source/drain region, source/drain region 122can be considered a second source/drain region, and source/drain region120 can be considered a third source/drain region. In such aspects,charge storage device 140 can be considered a first charge storagedevice electrically connected with the first source/drain region, andcharge storage device 142 can be considered a second charge storagedevice electrically connected with the second source/drain region.

The aspects of the invention described with reference to FIGS. 1-19 forma shared source/drain region (such as the source/drain region 60 of FIG.16, or the source/drain region 120 of FIG. 18) that is not primarilydirectly over a segment of dielectric material corresponding to partialSOI. The invention also includes aspects in which a shared source/drainregion is formed over a segment of dielectric material corresponding topartial SOI, as discussed with reference to FIGS. 20-25. In referring toFIGS. 20-25, similar numbering will be used as is utilized above indescribing FIGS. 1-19, where appropriate.

Referring to FIG. 20, such shows a construction 150 at a processingstage subsequent to that of FIGS. 3 and 4. Construction 150 is similarto the construction 10 of FIGS. 5 and 6 in that construction 150comprises bulk semiconductor material 12 having isolation regions 14extending therein, and having dielectric material 24 thereover. Theisolation regions comprise insulative material 16, and form a pluralityof laterally surrounded portions or mesas 18, 20 and 22 of semiconductormaterial 12. The construction 150 of FIG. 20 also comprises thepatterned protective blocks 30 and 32 of material 34. However, incontrast to the construction 10 of FIGS. 5 and 6, construction 150 ofFIG. 20 comprises an additional patterned protective block 152 ofmaterial 34, with such block 152 being within a gap between blocks 30and 32. The block 152 is spaced from blocks 30 and 32 by gaps 154 and156, respectively. The blocks 30, 32 and 152 cover portions 36 ofdielectric material 24, and the various gaps between and adjacent thepatterned protective blocks expose portions 38 of the dielectricmaterial.

Referring to FIG. 21, the exposed portions of the dielectric material 24are removed to leave gaps 40 extending to semiconductor material 12, andbetween segments 36 of the remaining dielectric material 24. Theprocessing utilized to remove the exposed portions of dielectricmaterial 24 can be analogous to that discussed above with reference toFIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring to FIG. 22, the patterned protective blocks 30, 32 and 152(FIG. 21) are removed with processing analogous to that discussed abovewith reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The construction of FIG. 22 comprisesthree spaced segments 36 of dielectric material 24 over the mesa 20 ofsemiconductor material 12, and two gaps 40 extending between the spacedsegments; in contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 10 which has two spacedsegments 36 of the dielectric material over the mesa 20, and only onegap 40 over such mesa.

Referring to FIG. 23, second semiconductor material 42 is epitaxiallygrown over first semiconductor material 12 through gaps 40. Such secondsemiconductor material 42 is grown to a thickness sufficient to coverisolation regions 14 and segments 36. The second semiconductor materialcan be formed with processing analogous to that discussed above withreference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

Referring to FIG. 24, construction 150 is subjected to planarization toform the planarized upper surface 43. Such planarization can beanalogous to that discussed above with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

Referring to FIG. 25, trenches are formed within semiconductor material42, lined with gate dielectric 52 and filled with conductive gatematerial 54 as described previously with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.The conductive gate material is part of wordlines 46 and 48, and formstransistor gates 66 and 70 within the material 42, as discussed abovewith reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. Source/drain regions 58, 60 and 62are formed adjacent gates 66 and 70, as discussed above with referenceFIGS. 15 and 16. The source/drain regions of FIG. 25 are shown extendingthrough the thickness of material 42 to uppermost surfaces of dielectricmaterial 24. Source/drain regions 58 and 60 are gatedly connected by achannel region 68 extending along and beneath gate 66, and similarlysource/drain regions 60 and 62 are gatedly connected by a channel region72 extending along and beneath gate 70. FIG. 25 also shows source/drainregions 55, 56, 64 and 65 of the type described above with reference toFIGS. 15 and 16.

The source/drain regions 58 and 62 are electrically connected to chargestorage devices (for instance, capacitors) 78 and 80, respectively, andthe shared source/drain region 60 is electrically connected to a bitline76. Such connections to charge storage devices and bitlines werediscussed above with reference to FIG. 16.

Construction 150 of FIG. 25 differs from the construction 10 of FIG. 16in that the shared source/drain region 60 of construction 150 is primarydirectly over a segment 36 of dielectric material 24. Thus, all of thesource/drain regions 58, 60 and 62 of the paired transistors over mesa20 are primarily directly over segments of dielectric material 24. Yet,channel regions 68 and 72 are advantageously not primarily directly oversegments of dielectric of 24 in the partial SOI structure of FIG. 25.

Although the two transistors of FIG. 25 are shown having gates recessedinto the semiconductor material 42, it is to be understood that othertypes of transistor devices can be utilized, including, for example,transistors of the type described above with reference to FIG. 18 whichhave planar transistor gates formed over a planarized top surface ofsemiconductor material 42. Also, it is to be understood that theconcepts of FIGS. 17-19 can be combined with those of FIG. 25 to formconstructions of the type shown in FIGS. 17-19 having the sharedsource/drain regions (for instance, region 120 of FIG. 18) primarilydirectly over segments of dielectric material 24.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the variousaspects of the invention described herein can be utilized with any ofnumerous types of transistor constructions, including, for example, RAD,finFET and planar transistor constructions. The methodology of thepresent invention can be readily adapted to numerous fabricationschemes, including, for example, damascene-type schemes, and/or schemesin which oxide is recessed around partial-SOI pillars and then finFETtransistors are formed (like, for example, the scheme described withreference to FIGS. 17-19).

Partial SOI constructions of the present invention can be incorporatedinto numerous electronic systems. For instance, the partial SOIconstructions can be incorporated into memory arrays (such as, forexample, DRAM arrays), which are subsequently utilized in computers orother electronic systems.

FIG. 26 illustrates generally, by way of example but not by way oflimitation, an embodiment of a computer system 400 according to anaspect of the present invention. Computer system 400 includes a monitor401 or other communication output device, a keyboard 402 or othercommunication input device, and a motherboard 404. Motherboard 404 cancarry a microprocessor 406 or other data processing unit, and at leastone memory device 408. Memory device 408 can comprise various aspects ofthe invention described above. Memory device 408 can comprise an arrayof memory cells, and such array can be coupled with addressing circuitryfor accessing individual memory cells in the array. Further, the memorycell array can be coupled to a read circuit for reading data from thememory cells. The addressing and read circuitry can be utilized forconveying information between memory device 408 and processor 406. Suchis illustrated in the block diagram of the motherboard 404 shown in FIG.27. In such block diagram, the addressing circuitry is illustrated as410 and the read circuitry is illustrated as 412. Various components ofcomputer system 400, including processor 406, can comprise one or moreof the partial SOI constructions described previously in thisdisclosure.

Processor device 406 can correspond to a processor module, andassociated memory utilized with the module can comprise teachings of thepresent invention.

Memory device 408 can correspond to a memory module. For example, singlein-line memory modules (SIMMs) and dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs)may be used in the implementation which utilize the teachings of thepresent invention. The memory device can be incorporated into any of avariety of designs which provide different methods of reading from andwriting to memory cells of the device. One such method is the page modeoperation. Page mode operations in a DRAM are defined by the method ofaccessing a row of a memory cell arrays and randomly accessing differentcolumns of the array. Data stored at the row and column intersection canbe read and output while that column is accessed.

An alternate type of device is the extended data output (EDO) memorywhich allows data stored at a memory array address to be available asoutput after the addressed column has been closed. This memory canincrease some communication speeds by allowing shorter access signalswithout reducing the time in which memory output data is available on amemory bus. Other alternative types of devices include SDRAM, DDR SDRAM,SLDRAM, VRAM and Direct RDRAM, as well as others such as SRAM or Flashmemories.

Memory device 408 can comprise partial SOI formed in accordance with oneor more aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 28 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a high-levelorganization of various embodiments of an exemplary electronic system700 of the present invention. System 700 can correspond to, for example,a computer system, a process control system, or any other system thatemploys a processor and associated memory. Electronic system 700 hasfunctional elements, including a processor or arithmetic/logic unit(ALU) 702, a control unit 704, a memory device unit 706 and aninput/output (I/O) device 708. Generally, electronic system 700 willhave a native set of instructions that specify operations to beperformed on data by the processor 702 and other interactions betweenthe processor 702, the memory device unit 706 and the I/O devices 708.The control unit 704 coordinates all operations of the processor 702,the memory device 706 and the I/O devices 708 by continuously cyclingthrough a set of operations that cause instructions to be fetched fromthe memory device 706 and executed. In various embodiments, the memorydevice 706 includes, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM)devices, read-only memory (ROM) devices, and peripheral devices such asa floppy disk drive and a compact disk CD-ROM drive. One of ordinaryskill in the art will understand, upon reading and comprehending thisdisclosure, that any of the illustrated electrical components arecapable of being fabricated to include partial SOI constructions inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a simplified block diagram of a high-level organization ofvarious embodiments of an exemplary electronic system 800. The system800 includes a memory device 802 that has an array of memory cells 804,address decoder 806, row access circuitry 808, column access circuitry810, read/write control circuitry 812 for controlling operations, andinput/output circuitry 814. The memory device 802 further includes powercircuitry 816, and sensors 820, such as current sensors for determiningwhether a memory cell is in a low-threshold conducting state or in ahigh-threshold non-conducting state. The illustrated power circuitry 816includes power supply circuitry 880, circuitry 882 for providing areference voltage, circuitry 884 for providing the first wordline withpulses, circuitry 886 for providing the second wordline with pulses, andcircuitry 888 for providing the bitline with pulses. The system 800 alsoincludes a processor 822, or memory controller for memory accessing.

The memory device 802 receives control signals from the processor 822over wiring or metallization lines. The memory device 802 is used tostore data which is accessed via I/O lines. It will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that additional circuitry and control signalscan be provided, and that the memory device 802 has been simplified tohelp focus on the invention. At least one of the processor 822 or memorydevice 802 can include a partial SOI construction of a type describedpreviously in this disclosure.

The various illustrated systems of this disclosure are intended toprovide a general understanding of various applications for thecircuitry and structures of the present invention, and are not intendedto serve as a complete description of all the elements and features ofan electronic system using memory cells in accordance with aspects ofthe present invention. One of the ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that the various electronic systems can be fabricated insingle-package processing units, or even on a single semiconductor chip,in order to reduce the communication time between the processor and thememory device(s).

Applications for memory cells can include electronic systems for use inmemory modules, device drivers, power modules, communication modems,processor modules, and application-specific modules, and may includemultilayer, multichip modules. Such circuitry can further be asubcomponent of a variety of electronic systems, such as a clock, atelevision, a cell phone, a personal computer, an automobile, anindustrial control system, an aircraft, and others.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific as to structural and methodical features.It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown and described, since the means hereindisclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1-39. (canceled)
 40. A method of forming a semiconductor construction,comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate having asilicon-containing material, having an isolation region extending intothe silicon-containing material, having a portion of thesilicon-containing material laterally surrounded by the isolationregion, and having a dielectric material over the portion; patterningthe dielectric material into at least two segments separated by a gap;forming semiconductor material to be within the gap and over thesegments of the dielectric material; and forming at least one transistorhaving a source/drain region within the semiconductor material andprimarily directly over one of the segments of the dielectric material,and having a channel region that is not primarily directly over any ofthe segments of the dielectric material.
 41. The method of claim 40wherein the source/drain region is formed to extend through thesemiconductor material to physically contact said one of the segments ofthe dielectric material.
 42. The method of claim 40 wherein thepatterning of the dielectric material forms three spaced segments of thedielectric material and two of the gaps; and wherein the forming the atleast one transistor is forming two transistors; the two transistorssharing a source/drain region that is primarily directly over one of thesegments of the dielectric material and having channel regions over thegaps.
 43. The method of claim 40 wherein the semiconductor materialcomprises silicon.
 44. The method of claim 40 wherein the isolationregion comprises silicon dioxide extending into trenches in thesilicon-containing material, and wherein the dielectric materialcomprises silicon dioxide which joins with the silicon dioxide of theisolation region.
 45. A method of forming a semiconductor construction,comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate having mesas of firstsemiconductor material laterally surrounded by isolation regions, andhaving dielectric material over the mesas; forming a patterned mask overportions of the dielectric material, at least some sections of thepatterned mask extending across portions of two separate mesas;transferring a pattern from the patterned mask to the dielectricmaterial to pattern the dielectric material into spaced segments overthe mesas, and to form gaps over the mesas and between the spacedsegments; forming second semiconductor material within the gaps and overthe segments of dielectric material; and forming transistors havingsource/drain regions within the second semiconductor material andprimarily directly over the segments of the dielectric material, andhaving channel regions that are not primarily directly over any of thesegments of the dielectric material.
 46. The method of claim 45 whereinthe first and second semiconductor materials comprise monocrystallinesilicon.
 47. The method of claim 45 wherein the patterned mask comprisesphotoresist.
 48. The method of claim 45 wherein the patterning of thedielectric material forms three spaced segments of the dielectricmaterial over at least some of the mesas, and forms two of the gaps oversaid at least some of the mesas; and wherein the forming the transistorscomprises forming pairs of the transistors over said at least some ofthe mesas; the pairs of transistors sharing a source/drain region thatis primarily directly over one of the segments of the dielectricmaterial, and having channel regions over the gaps.
 49. A method offorming a semiconductor construction, comprising: providing amonocrystalline silicon wafer; forming a mask over the monocrystallinesilicon wafer, the mask comprising silicon nitride over dielectricmaterial; the mask having openings extending therethrough defininglocations of isolation regions; etching into the monocrystalline siliconthrough the openings in the mask to form openings in the monocrystallinesilicon of the wafer for isolation regions; filling the openings withelectrically insulative material to form the isolation regions to beextending into the monocrystalline silicon of the wafer; the isolationregions being in a pattern that leaves mesas of the monocrystallinesilicon of the wafer under the mask and laterally surrounded by theisolation regions; removing the silicon nitride of the mask, and formingprotective blocking material that extends across at least some of theisolation regions and partially across the mesas, the protectiveblocking material covering some portions of the dielectric material ofthe mask and leaving other portions of the dielectric material exposed;removing the exposed portions of the dielectric material to exposesurfaces of the monocrystalline silicon of the mesas; removing theblocking material to leave segments of the dielectric material overportions of the mesas adjacent the exposed monocrystalline silicon ofthe mesas; epitaxially growing a layer of semiconductor material fromthe exposed semiconductor material of the mesas, the epitaxially grownsemiconductor material extending over the segments of dielectricmaterial; and forming transistor structures having source/drain regionswithin the layer of semiconductor material and primarily directly oversegments of the dielectric material, and having channel regions that arenot primarily directly over any of the segments of the dielectricmaterial.
 50. The method of claim 49 wherein the protective blockingmaterial comprises photoresist.
 51. The method of claim 49 wherein thedielectric material consists of silicon dioxide.